Receptor gene for peptide cancer antigen-specific t cell

ABSTRACT

The invention provides the nucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence of the CDR3 domain of the T cell receptor (TCR) gene of a WT1-specific cytotoxic T cell (CTL) against WT1 protein. Also provided are a method for testing for and treating cancer using the nucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence, and a chip, primer set, kit, and device for testing for cancer comprising the nucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a polynucleotide contained in the genefor a cancer antigen-specific T-cell receptor, and the peptide encodedby the polynucleotide, and to cancer tests, e.g., diagnosis, prognosis,or treatment monitoring using the same, cancer therapy, and the like.

BACKGROUND ART

Cancer treatments include extirpation of cancer by surgical operation,radiotherapy, treatment with anti-cancer medication, and immunotherapy.Among these treatments, immunotherapy in particular has drawn attentionin recent years because it is a treatment more selective and specificagainst cancer with least side effects. Inter alia, attempts have beenextensively made to treat cancer and leukemia by targeting WT1 protein,which is abundantly present in many types of cancer cells and leukemiacells. In order to study the mechanism of the WT1-targeted anti-cancertherapy and to further increase the effect of the therapy, it isnecessary to identify the nucleotide sequences of the T-cell receptor(TCR) genes of WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cells (CTL) and the amino acidsequences of the receptor peptides encoded by the nucleotide sequences.However, up to the present date, there is little information about thesequences of those receptor genes and the receptor peptides, and usesthereof although a number of researches have been conducted (see, e.g.,patent document 1 and non-patent documents 1-5).

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

-   Patent Document 1: WO 2008/108257 A1

Non Patent Documents

-   Non Patent Document 1: Valmori D. et al., J. Immunol. 168:    4231-4240, 2002-   Non Patent Document 2: Dietrich P Y. et al., Cancer Res. 61:    2047-2054, 2001-   Non Patent Document 3: Coulie P G. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.    U.S.A. 98: 10290-10295, 2001-   Non Patent Document 4: Godelaine D. et al. J. Immunol. 171:    4893-4897, 2003-   Non Patent Document 5: Mandruzzato S. et al., J. Immunol. 169:    4017-4024, 2002

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

An object of the present invention has been to reveal the amino acidsequences of T-cell receptors (TCRs) of WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cells(CTLs) for WT1 protein, and the nucleotide sequences of the genesencoding them, in particular, the amino acid and nucleotide sequences ofthe CDR3 region of them, as well as to use those pieces of informationin cancer tests (diagnosis, prognosis, treatment monitoring, or thelike) and in cancer therapy.

Means for Solving the Problems

To accomplish the above object, the inventors have conducted extensiveresearch and determined, for the first time, the nucleotide and aminoacid sequences of CDR3 of the Vβ chain of T-cell receptors (TCRs) ofWT1-specific cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) from healthy individuals andHLA-A*0201-positive patients, and has thereby completed the presentinvention. In particular, the inventors have identified, for the firsttime, the base sequences of genes for T-cell receptors (TCRs) ofWT1-specific cytotoxic T-cells recognizing WT1 cancer antigen peptide(126th-134th amino acids of WT1 protein; RMFPNAPYL (SEQ ID No.: 1543)).

Thus, the present invention provides the following:

(1) A polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence encoding CDR3 of a Vβchain of a T-cell receptor (TCR) of a WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cell(CTL), wherein said polynucleotide has DNA having any of the CDR3nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID Nos.: 1-756, RNA complementary tothe DNA, or a complementary sequence thereof;(2) The polynucleotide according to (1), wherein said polynucleotideconsists of a DNA consisting of any of the CDR3 nucleotide sequencesshown in SEQ ID Nos.: 1-756, or an RNA complementary thereto, or acomplementary sequence thereof;(3) A peptide having an amino acid sequence of CDR3 of a Vβ chain of aT-cell receptor (TCR) of a WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cell (CTL), whereinsaid peptide has any of the amino acid sequences of CDR3 shown in SEQ IDNos.: 757-1512;(4) The peptide according to (3) consisting of any of the amino acidsequences of CDR3 shown in SEQ ID Nos.: 757-1512;(5) Use of the polynucleotide of (1) or (2), or the peptide of (3) or(4) as a cancer marker;(6) A method for diagnosing cancer in an HLA-A*0201-positive patient,which comprises assessing the clonality of a WT1-specific CTL having anyof the polynucleotides of (1) or (2), or any of the peptides of (3) or(4) in a sample obtained from the patient before therapy, wherein incase that a WT1-specific CTL having a multiplicity of clonality ispresent, a higher possibility of developing cancer in the patient beforetherapy is determined when the types of a WT1-specific CTL with amultiplicity of clonality are more abundant, or when the clonality of aWT1-specific CTL with a multiplicity of clonality is higher;(7) The method according to (6), wherein a higher possibility ofdeveloping cancer in the patient before therapy is determined when theclonality of a WT1-specific CTL having any of the CDR3 polynucleotidesor any of the CDR3 peptides and having the clonality of 3 or more ishigher, or when the types of a WT1-specific CTL having the clonality of3 or more are more abundant;(8) A method for testing for sensitivity of an HLA-A*0201-positivepatient to WT1 peptide immunotherapy, which comprises assessing thenumber of types and the clonality of WT1-specific CTLs having any of thepolynucleotides of (1) or (2) or any of the peptides of (3) or (4) in asample obtained from the patient before therapy, wherein the patient isdetermined to have sensitivity to WT1 peptide immunotherapy when thetypes of WT1-specific CTLs with a multiplicity of clonality are moreabundant in the patient than in a subject non-responsive to theimmunotherapy;(9) The method according to (8), wherein a patient is determined to havehigher sensitivity to WT1 peptide immunotherapy when the types ofWT1-specific CTL clones with a multiplicity of clonality are moreabundant, or the clonality is larger in the patient before therapy;(10) A method for monitoring WT1 peptide immunotherapy in anHLA-A*2402-positive patient, which comprises assessing the clonality ofWT1-specific CTL clones having any of the polynucleotides of (1) or (2)or any of the peptides of (3) or (4) in a sample obtained from thepatient before and after the immunotherapy, wherein the patient isdetermined to have responded to WT1 peptide immunotherapy when theclonality of any of the WT1-specific CTL clones increases after theimmunotherapy compared to before the immunotherapy;(11) The method according to (10), wherein a patient is determined tohave higher responsiveness to WT1 peptide immunotherapy when the largerbecomes the increase rate in the clonality, or the more abundant becomethe types of clones with increased clonality after the WT1 peptideimmunotherapy;(12) An antibody against the peptide of (3) or (4);(13) A chip comprising the polynucleotide of (1) or (2), the peptide of(3) or (4), or the antibody of (12);(14) A primer for amplifying a CDR3 polypeptide, which has a sequenceselected from the sequences shown in SEQ ID Nos.: 1513-1538;(15) A kit for diagnosing cancer, a kit for testing for sensitivity of apatient to WT1 peptide immunotherapy, or a kit for monitoring WT1peptide immunotherapy, comprising means for detecting a WT1-specific CTLhaving the polynucleotide of (1) or (2) or the peptide of (3) or (4);(16) A device for cancer diagnosis, a device for testing for sensitivityof a patient to WT1 peptide immunotherapy, or a device for monitoringWT1 peptide immunotherapy, comprising means for detecting a WT1-specificCTL having the polynucleotide of (1) or (2) or the peptide of (3) or(4);(17) The kit according to (15), comprising the chip of (13) or theprimer of (14);(18) The device according to (16), wherein the chip of (13) or theprimer of (14) is used in the device;(19) A lymphocyte of an HLA-A*0201-positive cancer patient, into which aT-cell receptor gene comprising a sequence of the polynucleotide of (1)or (2) is introduced.

The present invention also provides cancer therapy using lymphocytesfrom HLA-A*0201-positive patients, wherein a T-cell receptor genecontaining a CDR3 polynucleotide is introduced into the lymphocytes.

Further, the present invention provides an antibody raised against aCDR3 polypeptide and use thereof.

Effect of the Invention

By virtue of the present invention, the nucleotide sequences containedin the gene for the Vβ chain of T-cell receptors (TCRs) of WT1-specificcytotoxic T-cells (CTLs), and the amino acid sequences of peptidesencoded by them, in particular, the nucleotide and amino acid sequencesof CDR3 have been revealed, and extensive cancer tests (diagnosis,prognosis, treatment monitoring, or the like), effective cancertherapies, and the like are enabled using these polynucleotides andpeptides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1-1 shows the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 of the Vβchain of T-cell receptors (TCRs), the number of clone (clonality)thereof and the like of WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) fromhealthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positive solid cancer patients, whichsequences have been identified in the present invention. In the figure,“clone #” indicates the clone numbers, the numbers to the left of thedot indicate the family numbers of Vβ chains, and the numbers to theright of the dot indicate the reference numbers. The column “name”indicates the subjects from which the clone derived, HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4,and HD5 indicate healthy individuals, respectively, and PT1, PT2, PT3,PT4, PT5 and PT6 indicate solid cancer patients and indicate thepatients with glioblastoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor,glioblastoma, ovarian cancer, cecal cancer, and glioblastoma,respectively. V name, J name, and D name indicate the details of the Vregion, J region, and D region, respectively. The nucleotide sequencesare indicated by portion which derives from V region, N1 region, Dregion, (P)N2 region, or J region. The column to the right of thenucleotide sequence indicates what kind of region the sequence whichconstitutes the nucleotide sequence was derived from. The amino acidsequence encoded by each nucleotide sequence is indicated by 1 lettercode known to those skilled in the art. Two columns to the right of theamino acid sequence indicate clonality in each healthy individual andclonality in each cancer patient. The rightmost column indicates thetotal of clonality of each clone.

FIG. 1-2 shows the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 of the Vβchain of T-cell receptors (TCRs), the number of clone (clonality)thereof and the like of WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) fromhealthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positive solid cancer patients, whichsequences have been identified in the present invention. In the figure,“clone #” indicates the clone numbers, the numbers to the left of thedot indicate the family numbers of Vβ chains, and the numbers to theright of the dot indicate the reference numbers. The column “name”indicates the subjects from which the clone derived, HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4,and HD5 indicate healthy individuals, respectively, and PT1, PT2, PT3,PT4, PT5 and PT6 indicate solid cancer patients and indicate thepatients with glioblastoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor,glioblastoma, ovarian cancer, cecal cancer, and glioblastoma,respectively. V name, J name, and D name indicate the details of the Vregion, J region, and D region, respectively. The nucleotide sequencesare indicated by portion which derives from V region, N1 region, Dregion, (P)N2 region, or J region. The column to the right of thenucleotide sequence indicates what kind of region the sequence whichconstitutes the nucleotide sequence was derived from. The amino acidsequence encoded by each nucleotide sequence is indicated by 1 lettercode known to those skilled in the art. Two columns to the right of theamino acid sequence indicate clonality in each healthy individual andclonality in each cancer patient. The rightmost column indicates thetotal of clonality of each clone.

FIG. 1-3 shows the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 of the Vβchain of T-cell receptors (TCRs), the number of clone (clonality)thereof and the like of WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) fromhealthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positive solid cancer patients, whichsequences have been identified in the present invention. In the figure,“clone #” indicates the clone numbers, the numbers to the left of thedot indicate the family numbers of Vβ chains, and the numbers to theright of the dot indicate the reference numbers. The column “name”indicates the subjects from which the clone derived, HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4,and HD5 indicate healthy individuals, respectively, and PT1, PT2, PT3,PT4, PT5 and PT6 indicate solid cancer patients and indicate thepatients with glioblastoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor,glioblastoma, ovarian cancer, cecal cancer, and glioblastoma,respectively. V name, J name, and D name indicate the details of the Vregion, J region, and D region, respectively. The nucleotide sequencesare indicated by portion which derives from V region, N1 region, Dregion, (P)N2 region, or J region. The column to the right of thenucleotide sequence indicates what kind of region the sequence whichconstitutes the nucleotide sequence was derived from. The amino acidsequence encoded by each nucleotide sequence is indicated by 1 lettercode known to those skilled in the art. Two columns to the right of theamino acid sequence indicate clonality in each healthy individual andclonality in each cancer patient. The rightmost column indicates thetotal of clonality of each clone.

FIG. 1-4 shows the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 of the Vβchain of T-cell receptors (TCRs), the number of clone (clonality)thereof and the like of WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) fromhealthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positive solid cancer patients, whichsequences have been identified in the present invention. In the figure,“clone #” indicates the clone numbers, the numbers to the left of thedot indicate the family numbers of Vβ chains, and the numbers to theright of the dot indicate the reference numbers. The column “name”indicates the subjects from which the clone derived, HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4,and HD5 indicate healthy individuals, respectively, and PT1, PT2, PT3,PT4, PT5 and PT6 indicate solid cancer patients and indicate thepatients with glioblastoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor,glioblastoma, ovarian cancer, cecal cancer, and glioblastoma,respectively. V name, J name, and D name indicate the details of the Vregion, J region, and D region, respectively. The nucleotide sequencesare indicated by portion which derives from V region, N1 region, Dregion, (P)N2 region, or J region. The column to the right of thenucleotide sequence indicates what kind of region the sequence whichconstitutes the nucleotide sequence was derived from. The amino acidsequence encoded by each nucleotide sequence is indicated by 1 lettercode known to those skilled in the art. Two columns to the right of theamino acid sequence indicate clonality in each healthy individual andclonality in each cancer patient. The rightmost column indicates thetotal of clonality of each clone.

FIG. 1-5 shows the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 of the Vβchain of T-cell receptors (TCRs), the number of clone (clonality)thereof and the like of WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) fromhealthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positive solid cancer patients, whichsequences have been identified in the present invention. In the figure,“clone #” indicates the clone numbers, the numbers to the left of thedot indicate the family numbers of Vβ chains, and the numbers to theright of the dot indicate the reference numbers. The column “name”indicates the subjects from which the clone derived, HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4,and HD5 indicate healthy individuals, respectively, and PT1, PT2, PT3,PT4, PT5 and PT6 indicate solid cancer patients and indicate thepatients with glioblastoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor,glioblastoma, ovarian cancer, cecal cancer, and glioblastoma,respectively. V name, J name, and D name indicate the details of the Vregion, J region, and D region, respectively. The nucleotide sequencesare indicated by portion which derives from V region, N1 region, Dregion, (P)N2 region, or J region. The column to the right of thenucleotide sequence indicates what kind of region the sequence whichconstitutes the nucleotide sequence was derived from. The amino acidsequence encoded by each nucleotide sequence is indicated by 1 lettercode known to those skilled in the art. Two columns to the right of theamino acid sequence indicate clonality in each healthy individual andclonality in each cancer patient. The rightmost column indicates thetotal of clonality of each clone.

FIG. 1-6 shows the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 of the Vβchain of T-cell receptors (TCRs), the number of clone (clonality)thereof and the like of WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) fromhealthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positive solid cancer patients, whichsequences have been identified in the present invention. In the figure,“clone #” indicates the clone numbers, the numbers to the left of thedot indicate the family numbers of Vβ chains, and the numbers to theright of the dot indicate the reference numbers. The column “name”indicates the subjects from which the clone derived, HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4,and HD5 indicate healthy individuals, respectively, and PT1, PT2, PT3,PT4, PT5 and PT6 indicate solid cancer patients and indicate thepatients with glioblastoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor,glioblastoma, ovarian cancer, cecal cancer, and glioblastoma,respectively. V name, J name, and D name indicate the details of the Vregion, J region, and D region, respectively. The nucleotide sequencesare indicated by portion which derives from V region, N1 region, Dregion, (P)N2 region, or J region. The column to the right of thenucleotide sequence indicates what kind of region the sequence whichconstitutes the nucleotide sequence was derived from. The amino acidsequence encoded by each nucleotide sequence is indicated by 1 lettercode known to those skilled in the art. Two columns to the right of theamino acid sequence indicate clonality in each healthy individual andclonality in each cancer patient. The rightmost column indicates thetotal of clonality of each clone.

FIG. 1-7 shows the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 of the Vβchain of T-cell receptors (TCRs), the number of clone (clonality)thereof and the like of WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) fromhealthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positive solid cancer patients, whichsequences have been identified in the present invention. In the figure,“clone #” indicates the clone numbers, the numbers to the left of thedot indicate the family numbers of Vβ chains, and the numbers to theright of the dot indicate the reference numbers. The column “name”indicates the subjects from which the clone derived, HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4,and HD5 indicate healthy individuals, respectively, and PT1, PT2, PT3,PT4, PT5 and PT6 indicate solid cancer patients and indicate thepatients with glioblastoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor,glioblastoma, ovarian cancer, cecal cancer, and glioblastoma,respectively. V name, J name, and D name indicate the details of the Vregion, J region, and D region, respectively. The nucleotide sequencesare indicated by portion which derives from V region, N1 region, Dregion, (P)N2 region, or J region. The column to the right of thenucleotide sequence indicates what kind of region the sequence whichconstitutes the nucleotide sequence was derived from. The amino acidsequence encoded by each nucleotide sequence is indicated by 1 lettercode known to those skilled in the art. Two columns to the right of theamino acid sequence indicate clonality in each healthy individual andclonality in each cancer patient. The rightmost column indicates thetotal of clonality of each clone.

FIG. 1-8 shows the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 of the Vβchain of T-cell receptors (TCRs), the number of clone (clonality)thereof and the like of WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) fromhealthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positive solid cancer patients, whichsequences have been identified in the present invention. In the figure,“clone #” indicates the clone numbers, the numbers to the left of thedot indicate the family numbers of Vβ chains, and the numbers to theright of the dot indicate the reference numbers. The column “name”indicates the subjects from which the clone derived, HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4,and HD5 indicate healthy individuals, respectively, and PT1, PT2, PT3,PT4, PT5 and PT6 indicate solid cancer patients and indicate thepatients with glioblastoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor,glioblastoma, ovarian cancer, cecal cancer, and glioblastoma,respectively. V name, J name, and D name indicate the details of the Vregion, J region, and D region, respectively. The nucleotide sequencesare indicated by portion which derives from V region, N1 region, Dregion, (P)N2 region, or J region. The column to the right of thenucleotide sequence indicates what kind of region the sequence whichconstitutes the nucleotide sequence was derived from. The amino acidsequence encoded by each nucleotide sequence is indicated by 1 lettercode known to those skilled in the art. Two columns to the right of theamino acid sequence indicate clonality in each healthy individual andclonality in each cancer patient. The rightmost column indicates thetotal of clonality of each clone.

FIG. 1-9 shows the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 of the Vβchain of T-cell receptors (TCRs), the number of clone (clonality)thereof and the like of WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) fromhealthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positive solid cancer patients, whichsequences have been identified in the present invention. In the figure,“clone #” indicates the clone numbers, the numbers to the left of thedot indicate the family numbers of Vβ chains, and the numbers to theright of the dot indicate the reference numbers. The column “name”indicates the subjects from which the clone derived, HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4,and HD5 indicate healthy individuals, respectively, and PT1, PT2, PT3,PT4, PT5 and PT6 indicate solid cancer patients and indicate thepatients with glioblastoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor,glioblastoma, ovarian cancer, cecal cancer, and glioblastoma,respectively. V name, J name, and D name indicate the details of the Vregion, J region, and D region, respectively. The nucleotide sequencesare indicated by portion which derives from V region, N1 region, Dregion, (P)N2 region, or J region. The column to the right of thenucleotide sequence indicates what kind of region the sequence whichconstitutes the nucleotide sequence was derived from. The amino acidsequence encoded by each nucleotide sequence is indicated by 1 lettercode known to those skilled in the art. Two columns to the right of theamino acid sequence indicate clonality in each healthy individual andclonality in each cancer patient. The rightmost column indicates thetotal of clonality of each clone.

FIG. 2-1 summarizes the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 ofthe Vβ chain of T-cell receptors (TCRs) of the WT1-specific cytotoxicT-cells (CTLs) obtained from healthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positivesolid cancer patients. In the figure, the leftmost column “name”indicates a healthy individual or a cancer patient and the meaning ofeach symbol is the same as that of FIG. 1. “Cell #” indicates thenumbers of cells obtained from each individual. TRBV, TRBJ and TRBD havethe same meaning as that of V name, J name, and D name of FIG. 1,respectively. In the indication of the nucleotide sequence, the dots areomitted (which are not omitted in FIG. 1). “*” or “**” to the right ofthe amino acid sequence indicates that two or more of the same sequencesare arranged.

FIG. 2-2 summarizes the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 ofthe Vβ chain of T-cell receptors (TCRs) of the WT1-specific cytotoxicT-cells (CTLs) obtained from healthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positivesolid cancer patients. In the figure, the leftmost column “name”indicates a healthy individual or a cancer patient and the meaning ofeach symbol is the same as that of FIG. 1. “Cell #” indicates thenumbers of cells obtained from each individual. TRBV, TRBJ and TRBD havethe same meaning as that of V name, J name, and D name of FIG. 1,respectively. In the indication of the nucleotide sequence, the dots areomitted (which are not omitted in FIG. 1). “*” or “**” to the right ofthe amino acid sequence indicates that two or more of the same sequencesare arranged.

FIG. 2-3 summarizes the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 ofthe Vβ chain of T-cell receptors (TCRs) of the WT1-specific cytotoxicT-cells (CTLs) obtained from healthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positivesolid cancer patients. In the figure, the leftmost column “name”indicates a healthy individual or a cancer patient and the meaning ofeach symbol is the same as that of FIG. 1. “Cell #” indicates thenumbers of cells obtained from each individual. TRBV, TRBJ and TRBD havethe same meaning as that of V name, J name, and D name of FIG. 1,respectively. In the indication of the nucleotide sequence, the dots areomitted (which are not omitted in FIG. 1). “*” or “**” to the right ofthe amino acid sequence indicates that two or more of the same sequencesare arranged.

FIG. 2-4 summarizes the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 ofthe Vβ chain of T-cell receptors (TCRs) of the WT1-specific cytotoxicT-cells (CTLs) obtained from healthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positivesolid cancer patients. In the figure, the leftmost column “name”indicates a healthy individual or a cancer patient and the meaning ofeach symbol is the same as that of FIG. 1. “Cell #” indicates thenumbers of cells obtained from each individual. TRBV, TRBJ and TRBD havethe same meaning as that of V name, J name, and D name of FIG. 1,respectively. In the indication of the nucleotide sequence, the dots areomitted (which are not omitted in FIG. 1). “*” or “**” to the right ofthe amino acid sequence indicates that two or more of the same sequencesare arranged.

FIG. 2-5 summarizes the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 ofthe Vβ chain of T-cell receptors (TCRs) of the WT1-specific cytotoxicT-cells (CTLs) obtained from healthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positivesolid cancer patients. In the figure, the leftmost column “name”indicates a healthy individual or a cancer patient and the meaning ofeach symbol is the same as that of FIG. 1. “Cell #” indicates thenumbers of cells obtained from each individual. TRBV, TRBJ and TRBD havethe same meaning as that of V name, J name, and D name of FIG. 1,respectively. In the indication of the nucleotide sequence, the dots areomitted (which are not omitted in FIG. 1). “*” or “**” to the right ofthe amino acid sequence indicates that two or more of the same sequencesare arranged.

FIG. 2-6 summarizes the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 ofthe Vβ chain of T-cell receptors (TCRs) of the WT1-specific cytotoxicT-cells (CTLs) obtained from healthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positivesolid cancer patients. In the figure, the leftmost column “name”indicates a healthy individual or a cancer patient and the meaning ofeach symbol is the same as that of FIG. 1. “Cell #” indicates thenumbers of cells obtained from each individual. TRBV, TRBJ and TRBD havethe same meaning as that of V name, J name, and D name of FIG. 1,respectively. In the indication of the nucleotide sequence, the dots areomitted (which are not omitted in FIG. 1). “*” or “**” to the right ofthe amino acid sequence indicates that two or more of the same sequencesare arranged.

FIG. 2-7 summarizes the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 ofthe Vβ chain of T-cell receptors (TCRs) of the WT1-specific cytotoxicT-cells (CTLs) obtained from healthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positivesolid cancer patients. In the figure, the leftmost column “name”indicates a healthy individual or a cancer patient and the meaning ofeach symbol is the same as that of FIG. 1. “Cell #” indicates thenumbers of cells obtained from each individual. TRBV, TRBJ and TRBD havethe same meaning as that of V name, J name, and D name of FIG. 1,respectively. In the indication of the nucleotide sequence, the dots areomitted (which are not omitted in FIG. 1). “*” or “**” to the right ofthe amino acid sequence indicates that two or more of the same sequencesare arranged.

FIG. 2-8 summarizes the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 ofthe Vβ chain of T-cell receptors (TCRs) of the WT1-specific cytotoxicT-cells (CTLs) obtained from healthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positivesolid cancer patients. In the figure, the leftmost column “name”indicates a healthy individual or a cancer patient and the meaning ofeach symbol is the same as that of FIG. 1. “Cell #” indicates thenumbers of cells obtained from each individual. TRBV, TRBJ and TRBD havethe same meaning as that of V name, J name, and D name of FIG. 1,respectively. In the indication of the nucleotide sequence, the dots areomitted (which are not omitted in FIG. 1). “*” or “**” to the right ofthe amino acid sequence indicates that two or more of the same sequencesare arranged.

FIG. 2-9 summarizes the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 ofthe Vβ chain of T-cell receptors (TCRs) of the WT1-specific cytotoxicT-cells (CTLs) obtained from healthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positivesolid cancer patients. In the figure, the leftmost column “name”indicates a healthy individual or a cancer patient and the meaning ofeach symbol is the same as that of FIG. 1. “Cell #” indicates thenumbers of cells obtained from each individual. TRBV, TRBJ and TRBD havethe same meaning as that of V name, J name, and D name of FIG. 1,respectively. In the indication of the nucleotide sequence, the dots areomitted (which are not omitted in FIG. 1). “*” or “**” to the right ofthe amino acid sequence indicates that two or more of the same sequencesare arranged.

FIG. 2-10 summarizes the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 ofthe Vβ chain of T-cell receptors (TCRs) of the WT1-specific cytotoxicT-cells (CTLs) obtained from healthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positivesolid cancer patients. In the figure, the leftmost column “name”indicates a healthy individual or a cancer patient and the meaning ofeach symbol is the same as that of FIG. 1. “Cell #” indicates thenumbers of cells obtained from each individual. TRBV, TRBJ and TRBD havethe same meaning as that of V name, J name, and D name of FIG. 1,respectively. In the indication of the nucleotide sequence, the dots areomitted (which are not omitted in FIG. 1). “*” or “**” to the right ofthe amino acid sequence indicates that two or more of the same sequencesare arranged.

FIG. 2-11 summarizes the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 ofthe Vβ chain of T-cell receptors (TCRs) of the WT1-specific cytotoxicT-cells (CTLs) obtained from healthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positivesolid cancer patients. In the figure, the leftmost column “name”indicates a healthy individual or a cancer patient and the meaning ofeach symbol is the same as that of FIG. 1. “Cell #” indicates thenumbers of cells obtained from each individual. TRBV, TRBJ and TRBD havethe same meaning as that of V name, J name, and D name of FIG. 1,respectively. In the indication of the nucleotide sequence, the dots areomitted (which are not omitted in FIG. 1). “*” or “**” to the right ofthe amino acid sequence indicates that two or more of the same sequencesare arranged.

FIG. 2-12 summarizes the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 ofthe Vβ chain of T-cell receptors (TCRs) of the WT1-specific cytotoxicT-cells (CTLs) obtained from healthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positivesolid cancer patients. In the figure, the leftmost column “name”indicates a healthy individual or a cancer patient and the meaning ofeach symbol is the same as that of FIG. 1. “Cell #” indicates thenumbers of cells obtained from each individual. TRBV, TRBJ and TRBD havethe same meaning as that of V name, J name, and D name of FIG. 1,respectively. In the indication of the nucleotide sequence, the dots areomitted (which are not omitted in FIG. 1). “*” or “**” to the right ofthe amino acid sequence indicates that two or more of the same sequencesare arranged.

FIG. 2-13 summarizes the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CDR3 ofthe Vβ chain of T-cell receptors (TCRs) of the WT1-specific cytotoxicT-cells (CTLs) obtained from healthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positivesolid cancer patients. In the figure, the leftmost column “name”indicates a healthy individual or a cancer patient and the meaning ofeach symbol is the same as that of FIG. 1. “Cell #” indicates thenumbers of cells obtained from each individual. TRBV, TRBJ and TRBD havethe same meaning as that of V name, J name, and D name of FIG. 1,respectively. In the indication of the nucleotide sequence, the dots areomitted (which are not omitted in FIG. 1). “*” or “**” to the right ofthe amino acid sequence indicates that two or more of the same sequencesare arranged.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The inventors have stained the peripheral lymphocytes from cancerpatients with WT1 tetramer that consists of WT1 peptide/HLA-A*0201complexes, and has separated WT1 tetramer-positive cells one by oneusing a FACS; cDNAs have been generated from each separated cell, andthe nucleotide sequences encoding CDR3 contained in the Vβ chain ofT-cell receptors (hereinafter may be referred to as “TCR”) ofWT1-specific cytotoxic T-cells, hereinafter may be referred to as“WT1-specific CTL”, have been determined by applying PCR method (FIGS.1-1 to 1-9 and FIGS. 2-1 to 2-13; SEQ ID Nos.: 1-756). From theseresults, the amino acid sequences of the CDR3 have been also determined(FIGS. 1-1 to 1-9 and FIGS. 2-1 to 2-13; SEQ ID Nos.: 757-1512). Thesesequences have been determined for the first time in the presentinvention.

Thus, in one aspect, the present invention provides a polynucleotidehaving the nucleotide sequence encoding CDR3 of the Vβ chain of T-cellreceptors (TCRs) of WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) obtained fromhealthy individuals and HLA-A*0201-positive patients, wherein thepolynucleotide has DNA having any of the CDR3 nucleotide sequences shownin SEQ ID Nos.: 1-756, RNA complementary to the DNA, or a complementarysequence thereof. As used herein, these DNA and RNA molecules and thecomplementary polynucleotides thereof are collectively referred to as“CDR3 polynucleotides.” For example, the CDR3 polynucleotides include,in addition to the DNAs comprising the nucleotide sequences shown in SEQID Nos.: 1-756, DNAs comprising these sequences. Also, for example, theCDR3 polynucleotides include, in addition to the RNAs complementary tothe DNAs comprising the nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID Nos.:1-756, RNAs comprising these sequences. Further, for example, the CDR3polynucleotides include polynucleotides having the sequences of the DNAsor RNAs, and polynucleotides complementary to the RNAs. The “CDRpolynucleotides” include those having degenerate sequences encoding“CDR3 peptides.”

In another aspect, the present invention provides peptides having theamino acid sequences of CDR3 of the Vβ chain of T-cell receptors (TCRs)of WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs), which CDR3 amino acidsequences being shown in any of SEQ ID Nos.: 757-1512. As used herein,these peptides are collectively referred to as “CDR3 peptides.” Forexample, the CDR3 peptides include, in addition to a peptide comprisingany of the CDR3 amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID Nos.: 757-1512,peptides comprising these CDR3 amino acid sequences (such as, forexample, Vβ chain peptides or a portion thereof). In addition, a peptideconsisting or comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID Nos.:757-1512 in which one or a few, preferably one to three, one or two, orone amino acid is substituted, added, or deleted is included in the“CDR3 peptides.” However, these peptides are required to have equivalentfunctions to the original peptide. These CDR3 peptides are encoded bythe above-mentioned CDR3 polynucleotides.

The CDR3 regions are the most diverse portions and are the mostresponsible parts for the specificity of antigen recognition. Thus, thesequences of the CDR3 polynucleotides and CDR3 peptides of the presentinvention are considered peculiar to WT1-specific CTL inHLA-A*0201-positive patients. Therefore, provided that thepolynucleotide encoding the CDR3 region of the gene for the TCR Vβ chainof a certain T-cell or the peptide corresponding to the CDR3 region havethe sequence of the polynucleotide or peptide of the present invention,the T-cell is considered as specific for WT1. Accordingly, the CDR3polynucleotides and CDR3 peptides of the present invention may find useas markers for a wide variety of cancers, use in applications such asdiagnosis of cancer, diagnosis of the susceptibility of patients to WT1peptide immunotherapy, and tests for the responsiveness in the patientsto WT1 peptide immunotherapy.

The CDR3 polynucleotides and CDR3 peptides of the present invention maybe present in the lymphocytes of patients with any type of cancer aslong as the cancer is generated from cells containing WT1. WT1 is knownas a cancer antigen in a variety of cancers and hematologicalmalignancies. Thus, the CDR3 polynucleotides and CDR3 peptides of thepresent invention, as well as the methods of the present inventiondescribed below, regardless of whether solid cancer or hematologicalcancer, may be applied to almost all the types of cancers including, butnot limited to, for example, hematologic malignancies, such as acutemyelocytic leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, malignant lymphoma,multiple myeloma, chronic myelocytic leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome,and recurrence after the transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells ofthe same type; solid cancers, such as tongue cancer, gingival cancer,mouth floor cancer, pharyngeal cancer, larynx cancer, salivary glandcancer, and thyroid cancer; thoracic cancers, such as breast cancer,lung cancer, and thymic cancer; gastrointestinal cancers, such as coloncancer, small intestine cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, livercancer, bile duct cancer, gastrointestinal endocrine tumor, andgastrointestinal carcinoid; cancers of urinary and genital tract, suchas renal cancer, urothelial cancer, germinoma, Wilms' tumor, prostatecancer, uterine body cancer, cervical cancer, uterine sarcoma, andovarian malignancy; musculoskeletal malignancies, such as primarymalignancy of bone (e.g., osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma) and softtissue sarcoma; and other cancers, such as skin cancer, neuroblastoma,malignant glioma (glioblastoma), primary malignant lymphoma of thecentral nervous system, medulloblastoma, and PNET.

When producing CDR3 polynucleotides or CDR3 peptides, conventionalgenetic engineering techniques and/or chemical synthetic procedures maybe used. For example, CDR3 polynucleotides may be isolated from cells orchemically synthesized. CDR3 polynucleotides may also be amplified usinga known method, such as PCR. Also, for example, a CDR3 polynucleotide(optionally amplified to an appropriate level using a known method) maybe integrated into a suitable vector and introduced into suitable cells,or may be introduced into suitable cells by biolistic bombardment orelectroporation. Then the cells into which the CDR3 polynucleotide isintroduced are cultured for expression, thereby obtaining the CDR3polynucleotide or peptide. Available vectors and cells, conditions forgene transfer, culture conditions, and methods for isolating genes andpeptides are known to those skilled in the art and appropriatelyselected for use. Chemical synthesis may be used to produce CDR3polynucleotides or CDR3 peptides. Methods for such chemical synthesisare known, and the methods for chemical synthesis of genes includesolid-phase DNA synthesis using amidite, and the 1-4 phosphonate method;the methods for chemical synthesis of peptides include the Fmoc method.

Thus, in a further aspect, the present invention provides a method fordiagnosing cancer in an HLA-A*0201-positive patient, the methodincluding assessing the clonality of WT1-specific CTL having any of theCDR3 polynucleotides or CDR3 peptides in a sample obtained from thepatient before therapy, wherein in case that a WT1-specific CTL having amultiplicity of clonality is present, a higher possibility of developingcancer in the patient before therapy is determined when the types of aWT1-specific CTL with a multiplicity of clonality are more abundant, orwhen the clonality of a WT1-specific CTL with a multiplicity ofclonality is higher. As used herein, the term “clonality” refers to thefrequency of detection of cells having an identical nucleotide or aminoacid sequence. To examine clonality, it is general to use a cell sorterthat allows identification of individual cells. The “patients” includeboth humans suspected to have cancer and those suffering from cancer.When the method is performed, the types of a WT1-specific CTL with amultiplicity of clonality or the clonality of a WT1-specific CTL with amultiplicity of clonality may be compared with that of humans notsuffering from cancer.

The inventors have found that it is possible to determine whether apatient develops cancer or not by examining the clonality ofWT1-specific CTL having any of the CDR3 polynucleotides or CDR3 peptidesin the patient. As can be seen from FIGS. 1-1 to 1-9 and 2-1 to 2-13, inthe healthy individuals (HD1 to HD5), the clonality of WT1-specific CTLhaving any of the CDR3 polynucleotides or CDR3 peptides is 1 for almostall the clones, 2 or 3 for rare clones, and 4 for rarer clone (only 1clone); however, by contrast, all the cancer patients before therapy(PT1 to PT6) have a multiplicity of clonality of the WT1-specific CTLshaving any of the CDR3 polynucleotides or CDR3 peptides withoutexception. The number of the clonality is larger and the types of suchcells are more abundant than those of the healthy individuals. Theincreases in clonality and in types of cells having a multiplicity ofclonality in patients before therapy indicate a possibility that defenseand attack against cancer cells has already been launched in thepatients.

In view of these results, the possibility of cancer in a patient may bedetermined if a multiplicity of clonality is found in the WT1-specificCTL having any of the CDR3 polynucleotides or CDR3 peptides whenexamining a sample from a subject. Further, it is possible to determinethat the larger the clonality of WT1-specific CTL having any of the CDR3polynucleotides or CDR3 peptides, or the more abundant the types ofWT1-specific CTLs having a multiplicity of clonality, the higher thepossibility of developing cancer is in the subject before therapy. Also,in the determination method, it is possible to determine that the higherthe possibility of developing cancer in the patient before therapy iswhen the clonality of WT1-specific CTL having any of the CDR3polynucleotides or CDR3 peptides and having the clonality of 3 or moreis larger, or the types of WT1-specific CTL having the clonality of 3 ormore are more abundant.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for testingfor the sensitivity of an HLA-A*0201-positive patient to WT1 peptideimmunotherapy, the method including assessing the clonality and thenumber of types of WT1-specific CTL clones having any of thepolynucleotides of claim 1 or any of the peptides of claim 2 in a sampleobtained from the patient before therapy, wherein the patient isdetermined to have the sensitivity to WT1 peptide immunotherapy when thetypes of WT1-specific CTL clones with a multiplicity of clonality aremore abundant in the patient than in non-responsive subjects.

WT1-specific CTLs having any of the CDR3 polynucleotides or CDR3peptides act against cancer cells in the patients. In this process, theclones that already have a multiplicity of clonality before therapy areconsidered to further increase the clonality or maintain their clonalityby WT1 peptide immunotherapy. It is also considered that WT1immunotherapy is more likely to be successful when there are clones ofas many types as possible, which gives increased number and types ofeffective WT1-specific CTL clones as a whole. More strictly speaking,the sensitivity of a patient to WT1 peptide immunotherapy may bedetermined as being high when the types of WT1-specific CTL clones witha multiplicity of clonality are more abundant in the patient than innon-responsive subjects.

An increase in the clonality of a certain clone indicates that the WT1peptide immunotherapy showed its effect for a certain period of time.Even if the clonality of certain clones may increase temporarily andthen decrease, the clonality of other WT1-specific CTLs would increaseto complement the effect. Considering the effect on cancer cells, alarger increase in the clonality is more desired. Therefore, the largerbecomes the increase in the clonality or the more abundant become thetypes of clones with increased clonality after the WT1 peptideimmunotherapy, the responsiveness to the WT1 peptide immunotherapy isconsidered to have been high.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method formonitoring WT1 peptide immunotherapy in an HLA-A*0201-positive patient,the method including assessing the clonality of WT1-specific CTL cloneshaving any of the polynucleotides of claim 1 or any of the peptides ofclaim 2 in a sample obtained from the patient before and after thetherapy, wherein the patient is determined to have responded to WT1peptide immunotherapy when the clonality of any of the WT1-specific CTLclones increases after the therapy compared to before the therapy.

The presence of clones that increases their clonality due to WT1 peptideimmunotherapy indicates the responsiveness to the WT1 peptideimmunotherapy. In other words, the increase in the clonality suggeststhat the WT1 peptide immunotherapy showed its effect for a certainperiod of time. These increases in clonality may be transient orsustained. If the clonality of certain clones may increase onlytemporarily and then decrease, the clonality of other WT1-specific CTLswould increase to complement the effect. Considering the effect oncancer cells, a larger increase in the clonality is more desired.Therefore, the larger becomes the increase in the clonality or the moreabundant become the types of clones with increased clonality after theWT1 peptide immunotherapy, the patient may be determined to have higherresponsiveness to the WT1 peptide immunotherapy. The number andproperties of cancer cells may be examined using an appropriate methoddepending on the type and site of the cancer.

In the above-described method for monitoring therapy, although theclonality is compared before and after WT1 peptide immunotherapy, thetime period between before and after the therapy may be of any length.For example, it may be a few days, one week, two, three, or four weeks,or two or three months or more.

In the methods of the present invention described above, the means andmethods for assessing clonality and determining the types of clones(i.e., determining the amino acid sequences of CDR3 peptides or thenucleotide sequences encoding the same) are known in the art, and thoseskilled in the art may conveniently carry out these operations. Forexample, as shown in Examples in the specification, a known sortingapparatus, such as the FACSAria system, and a method for geneamplification, such as PCR (using, for example, a primer set selectedfrom the sequences listed in Table 1), may be used. In order to analyzethe CDR3 polynucleotides or CDR peptides of the present invention in astricter or more definite manner, one has only to confirm whether thenucleotide sequences of CDR3, IMGT, and the J and D regions in the Vβchain gene are shown in FIGS. 1-1 to 1-9 and 2-1 to 2-13. Suchconfirmation is well within the ordinary skill of the art.

WT1 peptide immunotherapy is also known. For example, it may beperformed on HLA-A*0201-positive patients by administeringHLA-A*0201-restricted WT1 peptide (for example, WT1₁₂₆: amino acidsequence: RMFPNAPYL (SEQ ID No: 1543) or WT1₁₈₇: amino acid sequence:SLGEQQYSV (SEQ ID No: 1544)) via, for example, a transdermal route. Ingeneral, a single dose is in the order of μg/kg body weight to mg/kgbody weight, and it may be administered at an interval of one week to afew weeks.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a chip comprisingthe CDR3 polynucleotides or the polynucleotides complementary thereto; achip comprising the CDR3 peptides; or a chip comprising antibodiesagainst the CDR3 peptides. The chips may be in the form of microchips,microarrays, and the like. The production of the chips may be conductedaccording to conventional methods; for example, antibodies raisedagainst the CDR3 polynucleotides or CDR3 peptides may be immobilized ona glass substrate. The species of the CDR3 polynucleotides or thepolynucleotides complementary thereto, the CDR3 peptides, or theantibodies against the CDR3 peptides that is immobilized on the chip maybe one to all; preferably, all the species are immobilized forexhaustive analysis. For example, all the polynucleotides comprising thenucleotide sequences complementary to the nucleotide sequences shown inSEQ ID Nos.: 1-756 may be immobilized on the chip; alternatively, forexample, antibodies that specifically recognize and bind to all thepeptides comprising the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID Nos.:757-1512 may be immobilized on the chip. The CDR3 polynucleotides or thepolynucleotides complementary thereto, the CDR3 peptides, or theantibodies against the CDR3 peptides may be placed at any position onthe chip.

The chips may be used for, for example, diagnosis of cancer as describedabove. The samples may be affected tissues, body fluids such as bloodand lymphatic fluid, or mucosal membranes. Preferably, the samples areperipheral blood. For example, when CDR3 polynucleotides are to beanalyzed, the nucleic acids are extracted from the cells according toconventional methods, and a chip onto which all the species ofpolynucleotides comprising the nucleotide sequences complementary to thenucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID Nos.: 1-756 are immobilized may beused to examine the species and quantity of the hybridized DNA presentin the sample. Also, for example, when CDR3 peptides are to be analyzed,a chip onto which antibodies that specifically recognize and bind to allthe species of peptides comprising the amino acid sequences shown in SEQID Nos.: 757-1512 are immobilized may be used to examine the species andquantity of the specifically bound peptides present in the sample.

In this regard, the present invention provides an antibody thatspecifically recognizes and binds to a CDR3 peptide. Preferably, such anantibody specifically recognizes and binds to any of the amino acidsequences shown in SEQ ID Nos.: 757-1512. Methods for preparing such anantibody are known to those skilled in the art.

Typically, DNAs in the sample or DNA sequences placed on the chip arelabeled so that the presence or absence, or the amount of hybridizationis indicated. For example, the presence or absence, or the species ofCDR3 peptides in a sample may be identified by arraying antibodies foreach of the CDR3 peptides of SEQ ID Nos.: 757-1512 on a chip and testingfor their specific binding to the CDR3 peptides present in the sample.Typically, the peptides in the sample or the antibodies on the chip arelabeled so that the presence or absence of the specific binding can bedetermined. Labels capable of indicating the presence or absence and theamount of hybridization or specific binding are known and include, forexample, fluorescent labels, radioactive labels, enzyme labels, andchromophore labels. One skilled in the art may conveniently selectsuitable labels. The chips described above may be used to analyze aplurality of samples at the same time.

The CDR3 polynucleotides and CDR peptides of the present invention maybe analyzed and identified using a known method, such as Southernblotting, Northern blotting, colony hybridization, and ELISA, as well asusing the chips described above.

As described above, the CDR3 DNAs of the present invention have beenidentified using the primers shown in Examples, particularly, the primersets shown in Table 1. Therefore, the present invention provides primersfor amplifying CDR polynucleotides, which primers having the sequencesselected from the sequences shown in SEQ ID Nos.: 1513-1538. Forexample, a primer set comprising the primers shown in SEQ ID Nos.:3391-3415 may be used for amplification of a CDR3 polynucleotide.

The present invention also provides a kit for diagnosing cancerincluding means for detecting a WT1-specific CTL having a CDR3polynucleotide or CDR3 peptide; a kit for testing for the sensitivity ofa patient to WT1 peptide immunotherapy; or a kit for monitoring WT1peptide immunotherapy. The present invention further provides a devicefor cancer diagnosis including means for detecting a WT1-specific CTLhaving a CDR3 polynucleotide or CDR3 peptide; a device for testing forthe sensitivity of a cancer patient to WT1 peptide immunotherapy; or adevice for monitoring WT1 peptide immunotherapy. A part for amplifyinggenes, such as a primer set, as described above, a chip as describedabove, or means for analyzing the information obtained from the chip maybe used in the kit as a component or in the device.

In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a lymphocytefrom an HLA-A*0201-positive patient, which lymphocyte incorporating aT-cell receptor gene containing a sequence of a CDR3 polynucleotide.HLA-A*0201-positive individuals include humans not suffering from cancerand cancer patients. A HLA-A*0201-positive individual may be, forexample, a healthy individual, a donor for bone-marrow transplant or acancer patient. Preferably, such a lymphocyte is a peripheral bloodlymphocyte into which the gene for the Vβ chain of TCR of WT1-specificCTLs comprising a CDR3 polynucleotide of the present invention, and agene for the Vβ chain of TCR of WT1-specific CTLs. In preparation ofsuch a peripheral blood lymphocyte, a single species of the gene for theVβ chain of TCR of WT1-specific CTLs may be used to obtain a pluralityof types of peripheral blood lymphocytes, which are in turn introducedinto patients. However, in view of improving the therapeutic effect, itis preferred to use a plurality of species of the gene for the Vβ chainof TCR of WT1-specific CTLs to obtain a plurality of types of peripheralblood lymphocytes, which are in turn introduced into patients.Alternatively, it is also preferred to select the nucleotide sequencesof a suitable gene to be introduced depending on individualcircumstances, because the therapeutically effective nucleotidesequences in the gene may differ depending on patients and cancer types.In addition, as used herein, the term “treatment” of cancer includes notonly procedure of tumor such as inhibition of cancer progression,reduction of cancer, disappearance of cancer, and the like, but alsoprevention of cancer recurrence.

Methods for preparing a gene to be introduced and for introducing thegene into peripheral blood lymphocytes are known in the art. Forexample, a gene to be introduced may be integrated into a suitablevector and then introduced into suitable cells, or may be introducedinto suitable cells by biolistic bombardment or electroporation. Otherconditions for gene transfer and for cell culture may be appropriatelyselected by those skilled in the art.

The lymphocytes into which a gene has been introduced as described abovemay be cultured ex vivo to obtain a large amount of WT1-specific CTLs.Then, the WT1-specific CTLs obtained may be introduced into a cancerpatient to kill tumor cells expressing WT1, thereby performing cancertherapy. When such a cancer therapy is performed, it is preferred that agene is introduced as described above into peripheral blood lymphocytesobtained from a cancer patient who should be treated and the obtainedWT1-specific CTLs are introduced into the same cancer patient.

The cancer therapy described above may be combined with other cancertherapies including anti-cancer agents and radiotherapy. The cancertherapy described above has a wide range of applications. They areexemplified above, but are not limited thereto.

In still another aspect, the present invention provides an antibodyagainst a CDR3 peptide and a method of use thereof. Methods forpreparing such an antibody are known in the art. Such an antibody may beused to detect or identify a lymphocyte having the amino acid sequenceof the CDR3 peptide of the present invention or an amino acid sequencecontaining the above sequence in its Vβ chain in the subject sample. Forexample, antibodies against peptides comprising the amino acid sequencesof any of SEQ ID Nos.: 757-1512 may be used to detect or identifycancer-specific lymphocytes. These antibodies may also be used to carryout the methods of the present invention, for example, the method fordiagnosing cancer.

Such an antibody may also be contacted with lymphocytes having the aminoacid sequence of CDR3 of the present invention to activate them. Thelymphocytes thus activated may be used to treat cancer. Preferably,lymphocytes obtained from a cancer patient are activated and, ifnecessary, proliferated, and the cancer therapy is conducted byreturning the lymphocytes to the patient. Such an antibody may also beused to enrich the WT1-specific T-cells of interest. For example, suchan antibody may be used to enrich the WT1-specific T-cells in a cancerpatient, thereby assisting the cancer therapy.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method foridentifying the position and size of a solid cancer, the methodincluding: administering the peripheral blood lymphocytes of the presentinvention described above after being labeled with a detectable label,and then examining the location and quantity of the label. The label maybe a known label, such as radioactive label, e.g. Tecnecium-99, andfluorescent label. Methods for labeling cells are also known. Detectionof labels and quantification of signals are also known in the art; theycan be performed using a radiation counter, by fluorescence assay, or byobtaining a tissue sample by biopsy.

The present invention is illustrated in greater detail below withreference to Examples, but it should be understood that the presentinvention is not construed as being limited thereto.

EXAMPLE 1 A. Experimental Methods and Materials Used

(1) Cell Samples

Peripheral blood samples were obtained from five healthy volunteers (HD1to HD5) and six HLA-A*0201-positive solid cancer patients (PT1 to PT6).HLA alleles of healthy individuals and cancer patients areHD1:0201/2402, HD2:0201/0206, HD3:0201/2602, HD4:0201/3303,HD5:0201/2402, PT1:0201/2402, PT2:0201/2402, PT3:0201/2402,PT4:0201/2402, PT5:0201/2402, PT6:0201/2402. The obtained peripheralblood samples were subjected to Ficoll-Hypaque (Pharmacia, Uppsala,Sweden) density gradient centrifugation and peripheral blood mononuclearcells (PBMCs) were separated and stored frozen at −170° C. until use.

(2) Flow Cytometric Analysis and Sorting

Initially, 2×10⁶ PBMCs per sample were stained with PE-conjugatedHLA-A*0201-WT1 126-134 tetramers (MBL, Tokyo, Japan) in FACS buffer (PBScontaining 2% fetal bovine serum) at 37° C. for 30 minutes.Subsequently, they were stained with monoclonal antibodies labeled withfive different fluorescent dyes as described below for 25 minutes on icein dark: FITC-labeled anti-CD4, CD14, CD16, CD19, and CD56,anti-CD3-PerCP, anti-CD8-APC-Cy7 (BD Bioscience, San Jose, Calif.),anti-CD45RA-APC, and anti-CCR7-PE-Cy7 (BD Pharmingen, San Diego,Calif.). The stained cells were washed twice in FACS buffer. Sorting wasperformed using the FACSAria system (BD Biosciences) and data analysiswas performed using the FACSDiva software (BD Biosciences). As a result,single HLA-A*0201-WT1₁₂₆₋₁₃₄ tetramer⁺CD3⁺CD8⁺ cells were obtained fromthe fraction of CD4⁻CD14⁻CD16⁻CD19⁻CD56⁻ cells and were defined asWT1-Tet⁺ cells.

(3) cDNA Synthesis of the TCR-β Chain from the Sorted Single Cells

The single WT1-Tet⁺ cells obtained as described above were sorteddirectly in a PCR tube containing a reaction mixture (reaction volume 20μl), cDNA synthesis was carried out by incubation at 50° C. for 90minutes, and then the samples were incubated at 95° C. for 5 minutes forterminating the reaction. The compositions of RT reaction solutions areshown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Final Component concentrationRT buffer (containing Triton X-100) 1x Cb-RT primer caccagtgtggccttttg200 nM (SEQ ID No: 1513) dNTP 0.5 mM Rnase inhibitor (Invitrogen) 0.875U/μl SuperScript III (Invitrogen) 4.5 U/μl gelatin 100 μg/ml tRNA 100μg/ml

(4) PCR Reaction

Ten μl of a synthesized cDNA product obtained by the above procedure wasadded to 40 μl of a reaction mixture in order to perform 1st PCRreaction. The procedure of PCR was as follows: a pre-PCR heating step at95° C. for 9 minutes, followed by 40 cycles of a denaturing step at 95°C. for 45 seconds, an annealing step at 57° C. for 45 seconds, and anextension step at 72° C. for 50 seconds. The compositions of 1st PCRreaction solutions are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Component Final concentration PCR buffer (not containing Mg) 1xMgCl₂   2 mM dNTP 0.25 mM Platinum Tag DNA polymerase (Invitrogen) 0.02U/μl Cb-RT primer (reverse)   5 nM Vb PCR-1~3 primer mix (forward)   5nM of each primer * Vb PCR-1 mix contained S1 mix, S2 mix and S7 mix. VbPCR-2 mix contained S3 mix, S4 mix and S8 mix. Vb PCR-3 mix contained S5mix and S6 mix.

Next, the above PCR products were subjected to 2nd PCR (screening PCR).The above PCR products were placed in separate 8 tubes, respectively,and a reaction mixture was added to each of the tubes. The procedure ofPCR was as follows: a pre-PCR heating step at 95° C. for 9 minutes,followed by 35 cycles of a denaturing step at 94° C. for 45 seconds, anannealing step at 57° C. for 45 seconds, and an extension step at 72° C.for 40 seconds. The compositions of 2nd PCR reaction solutions are shownin Table 3.

TABLE 3  Final Component concentration PCR buffer (not containing Mg) 1xMgCl₂ 2.5 mM dNTP 0.2 mM Platinum Taq DNA polymerase 0.0125 U/μl(Invitro gen) universal Cb primer 150 nM ggaacacgtttttcaggtcct (SEQ ID No: 1514) (reverse) S mix primer (forward) ** 150 nM ** Each ofS1 mix primer~S8 mix primer was added to each of eight tubes.

Each of S mix primer contained primers shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4  S1 mix primer Vb1/5 acagcaagtgac<tag>ctgagatgctc(SEQ. ID No: 1515~1517) Vb11 gatcactctggaatgttctcaaacc (SEQ ID No: 1518)Vb12 ccaagacacaaggtcacagagaca (SEQ ID No: 1519) S2 mix primer Vb2gagtgccgttccctggactttcag (SEQ ID No: 1520) Vb3 gtaacccagagctcgagatatcta(SEQ ID No: 1521) Vb22 ggtcacacagatgggacaggaagt (SEQ ID No: 1522)S3 mix primer Vb4 tccagtgtcaagtcgatagccaagtc (SEQ ID No: 1523) Vb6.aatgtaact<ct>tcaggtgtgatccaa (SEQ ID No: 1524~1525) Vb14gtgacccagaacccaagatacctc (SEQ ID No: 1526) S4 mix primer Vb6.bgtgtgatccaatttcaggtcatac (SEQ ID No: 1527) Vb8 ggtgacagagatgggacaagaagt(SEQ ID No: 1528) Vb21 cagtctcccagatataagattatagag (SEQ ID No: 1529)S5 mix primer Vb17 cactcagtccccaaagtacctgtt (SEQ ID No: 1530) Vb20gtcagatctcagactattcatcaatgg (SEQ ID No: 1531) Vb7tacgcagacaccaa<ga>acacctggtca (SEQ ID No: 1532~1533) Vb9cccagactccaaaatacctggtca (SEQ ID No: 1534) Vb18 tgcagaacccaagacacctggtca(SEQ ID No: 1535) S6 mix primer Vb10 aaggtcacccagagacctagactt(SEQ ID No: 1536) Vb16 atagaagctggagttactcagttc (SEQ ID No: 1537) Vb19acaaagatggattgtacccccgaa (SEQ ID No: 1538) S7 mix primer Vb13gtgtcactcagaccccaaaattcc (SEQ ID No: 1539) Vb15 gttacccagaccccaaggaatagg(SEQ ID No: 1540) S8 mix primer Vb23 ctgatcaaagaaaagagggaaacagcc(SEQ ID No: 1541) Vb24 caagataccaggttacccagtttg (SEQ ID No: 1542) In thetable 4, “< >” means that one nucleotide is selected from listednucleotides. For example, in case “. . . <ct> . . .” is represented,this means that there are two sequences, i.e., “. . . c . . .” and “. .. t . . .”.

To verify positive reactions in the 8 screening PCRs, 5 μl of eachscreening PCR product was subjected to 2% agarose gel electrophoresis,followed by further PCR. This PCR was performed by 3rd PCR reactionusing each of the Vβ-specific forward primers contained in the S mixprimer sets that were confirmed as positive and the samples obtained asdescribed above as templates. The procedure of PCR was as follows: apre-PCR heating step at 95° C. for 9 minutes, followed by 35 cycles of adenaturing step at 94° C. for 45 seconds, an annealing step at 57° C.for 45 seconds, and an extension step at 72° C. for 40 seconds. Thecompositions of 2nd PCR reaction solutions are shown in Table 5. Thereaction products were applied to 2% agarose gel electrophoresis toverify the positive reaction. The experiment was performed according tothe same procedure as above using a cell-free system as a negativecontrol.

TABLE 5 Component Final concentration PCR buffer (not containing Mg) 1xMgCl₂ 2.5 mM dNTP 0.2 mM Platinum Taq DNA polymerase (Invitrogen) 0.0125U/μl universal Cb primer (reverse) 150 nM Vb mix primer (forward)*** 200nM ***For example, when the positive reaction had verified in thereaction system using the above S1 mix primer, 3rd PCR reaction wasperformed using each of Vb1/5, Vb11 and Vb12 which were components of S1mix primer.

(5) Determination and Analysis of the Sequences of theComplementality-Determining Region 3 (CDR3) of TCR-β

The 3rd PCT products were applied to 2% agarose gel electrophoresis toverify the positive reaction. Amplified fragments of the TCR-β gene werepurified using the QIAquick PCR Purification kit (Qiagen, Valencia,Calif.). Corresponding Vb primers were used for sequencing. The ABIPRIAM BigDye Terminator v 3.1 Cycle Sequencing kit (Applied Biosystems,Foster City, Calif., USA) was used for sequencing, and the ABI PRISM3100 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems) was used for analysis. Thesequence data on CDR3 were analyzed by comparing the sequences withthose available from the website of the IMGT human TCR gene database(http://imgt.cines.fr/IMGT_vquest/vquest?livret=0&Option=hu manTcRfor).

B. RESULTS

In the present invention, the base sequences of 636 genes for the TCR βchain in peripheral blood mononuclear cell from five HLA-A*0201-positivehealthy individuals (HD1 to HD5) and six HLA-A*0201-positive cancerpatients (PT1 to PT6) could be determined, and the amino acid sequencesencoded by the genes could be determined. The sequences of the gene forthe Vβ chain, the J region sequences, D region sequences, N regionsequences, CDR3 nucleotide sequences, and CDR3 amino acid sequences ofWT1-specific CTLs derived from healthy individuals (HD1 to HD5) andcancer patients (PT1 to PT6) are shown in FIGS. 1-1 to 1-9. Theclonality of WT1-specific CTLs of each individual is shown in FIGS. 2-1to 2-13. The CDR3 nucleotide sequences are shown in SEQ ID Nos.: 1-636,and the CDR3 amino acid sequences are shown in SEQ ID Nos.: 757-1392.

In addition, according to the above-described procedure, CDR3 nucleotidesequence and CDR3 amino acid sequence were determined from peripheralblood samples of one HLA-A*0201-positive thyroid cancer patient (PT7)and one HLA-A*0201-positive healthy individual (HD6). CDR3 nucleotidesequences obtained from PT7 and HD6 are shown in SEQ ID Nos.: 637-756and CDR3 amino acid sequences obtained from PT7 and HD6 are shown in SEQID Nos.: 1393-1512.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2-1 to 2-13, in the healthy individuals (HD1to HD5), the clonality of WT1-specific CTL having any of the CDR3polynucleotides or CDR3 peptides is 1 for almost all the clones, 2 or 3for rare clones, and 4 for rarer clone (only 1 clone); however, all thecancer patients before therapy (AMLs and MDSs) have a multiplicity ofclonality of the WT1-specific CTLs having any of the CDR3polynucleotides or CDR3 peptides without exception. The number of theclonality tended to be larger and the types of such cells tended to bemore abundant in the cancer patients than in the healthy individuals.Specifically, PT1: 4 types (clonality of 30 in total); PT2: 10 types(clonality of 38 in total); PT3: 8 types (clonality of 26 in total);PT4: 4 types (clonality of 9 in total); PT5: 9 types (clonality of 20 intotal); and PT6: 5 types (clonality of 13 in total). On the other hand,in healthy individuals HD1 to HD5, the types of clones with amultiplicity of clonality in each individual are 1 to 5 types and theclonality in total was 2 to 10.

Hereinbefore, the present invention was described for the case whereHLA-A allele was A*0201; however, the present application can beapplicable for the case where HLA-A allele is A*0206.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

1. A polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence encoding CDR3 of a Vβchain of a T-cell receptor (TCR) of a WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cell(CTL), wherein the polynucleotide has DNA having any of the CDR3nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID Nos.: 1-756, RNA complementary tothe DNA, or a complementary sequence thereof.
 2. The polynucleotideaccording to claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide consists of a DNAconsisting of any of the CDR3 nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID Nos.:1-756, or an RNA complementary thereto, or a complementary sequencethereof.
 3. A peptide having an amino acid sequence of CDR3 of a Vβchain of a T-cell receptor (TCR) of a WT1-specific cytotoxic T-cell(CTL), the peptide having any of the amino acid sequences of CDR3 shownin SEQ ID Nos.: 757-1512.
 4. The peptide according to claim 3,consisting of any of the amino acid sequences of CDR3 shown in SEQ IDNos.: 757-1512.
 5. The polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein thepolynucleotide is suitable as a cancer marker.
 6. A method fordiagnosing cancer in an HLA-A*0201-positive patient, comprisingassessing a clonality of a WT1-specific CTL having the polynucleotide ofclaim 1 in a sample obtained from the patient before therapy, whereinwhen a WT1-specific CTL having a multiplicity of clonality is present, ahigher possibility of developing cancer in the patient before therapy isdetermined when types of a WT1-specific CTL with a multiplicity ofclonality are more abundant, or when the clonality of a WT1-specific CTLwith a multiplicity of clonality is higher.
 7. The method according toclaim 6, wherein a higher possibility of developing cancer in thepatient before therapy is determined when the clonality of aWT1-specific CTL having any of the CDR3 polynucleotides and having theclonality of 3 or more is higher, or when the types of a WT1-specificCTL having the clonality of 3 or more are more abundant.
 8. An antibodyagainst the peptide of claim
 3. 9. A chip comprising the polynucleotideof claim
 1. 10. A primer for amplifying a CDR3 polypeptide, which has asequence selected from sequences shown in SEQ ID Nos.: 1513-1538.
 11. Akit for diagnosing cancer, a kit for testing for sensitivity of apatient to WT1 peptide immunotherapy, or a kit for monitoring WT1peptide immunotherapy, comprising a means for detecting a WT1-specificCTL having the polynucleotide of claim
 1. 12. A device for cancerdiagnosis, a device for testing for sensitivity of a patient to WT1peptide immunotherapy, or a device for monitoring WT1 peptideimmunotherapy, comprising a means for detecting a WT1-specific CTLhaving the polynucleotide of claim
 1. 13. The kit according to claim 11,comprising a chip comprising the polynucleotide.
 14. The deviceaccording to claim 12, comprising a chip comprising the polynucleotide.15. A lymphocyte of an HLA-A*0201-positive cancer patient, comprising aT-cell receptor gene comprising a sequence of the polynucleotide ofclaim 1.